Whatever type of  jewelry you're looking for you can find it on ebay. But there are some things to keep in mind before making a purchase.

Once you've decided on what you're going to bid on or buy, check the seller's feedback first. This is very important whether you're a first time buyer or a long time ebayer. Feedback gives the buyer a glimpse into the history of the seller. Read other buyer's comments to find out how they felt about their shopping experience. You may also want to find out about return policies. Also, check to see if the seller offers discounted or free shipping on combined purchases.

Gemstone Facts
 
Gemstones can be natural, lab created or simulated. Natural and lab created gemstones have the same physical, optical and chemical properties. Simulated refers to a created stone that looks similar in appearance to a genuine gemstone, but has different physical, optical and chemical properties. Always check to see if the seller guarantees their gemstones to be genuine.
 
Tip: When buying someone jewelry for their birthday find out what their birthstone is. 

Buying Diamonds
 
Before you buy diamond jewelry online there are a few things you should educate yourself about.
 
The Four C’s. Cut, Clarity, Color and Carats.
 
Carats - Carats refer to the weight of a stone. Ct. is the abbreviation for carat. Ctw. Is the abbreviation for carats total weight. For example, if you have 3 stones in a piece of jewelry that are .25 carats each, it would be listed as .75 ctw.
 
Cut - A diamond’s cut does not refer to the shape of the stone. Rather it refers to the stone’s proportions, such as its depth and width and the uniformity of its facets. These are all characteristics that control brilliance, durability and other features we look for in a diamond. 
 
Color - Diamond colors are classified from D to Z. D being colorless and Z, the most yellow or brown. You'll find a diamond color chart listed in my store pages for easy reference. 
 
Clarity - Finally, there is clarity. Clarity refers to a diamond's natural blemishes or inclusions. The clarity of a diamond ranges from flawless to included. Flawless means there are no internal or external flaws. These are very rare and expensive stones. Included means there are inclusions visible under magnification and to the naked eye. The scale ranges from F (flawless) to I (included). In between there’s VVS (very slightly included) and SI (slightly included). See my diamond clarity chart.
 
Note: This information should be listed on the item page. If it’s not then you should ask the seller.

Gold Jewelry
 
Gold Jewelry is either made of solid gold or has been gold plated. Gold plated means the jewelry was made from another metal and then coated with 1 or 2 layers of gold. The base metal is usually sterling silver.
 
Gold plated jewelry is a great way to have a nice piece of jewelry without having to pay a fortune. I have several pieces of gold plated jewelry and to me it’s just as durable as solid gold. Someone once asked if the plating wears off. I told them that it would take a whole lot of wear and tear for that to happen. I personally have never had the plating wear off.
 
Gold is rarely used in its pure form (24k) for jewelry because it is just too soft. Pure gold is not very durable and scratches and dents easily. It is the addition of other metals that increases the strength and malleability of gold. 10k, 14k, and 18k gold are most commonly used for jewelry.
 
 
I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to be safe when shopping from anyone you don’t know. And have fun!